Bolt and nut lock and process of making the same



A ril 27,1926. 1,582,094

- W. R. SWEET A BOLT AND NUT LOCK AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME Filed June 2 1 25 gwmmtoc William R firreet Patented Apr. 27, 1926.

umren STATES pvrinmA-ivr n. swnn r, or MAssILLON, OHIO.

BOLT AND NUT LOCK AND PROCESS OF MAKING THE SAME.

Application filed June 26, 1925, Serial 110:39182.

To all whom, it may concern:

1 Be it known that LWVILLIAM R. Swnn'r, a citizen of the United States, residing .at Massillon, in the county of Stark and State '5 of Ohio, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Bolt and Nut Locks and Processes of Making the Same, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improved bolt 1 and nutlock and to a process of making the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a bolt and nut lock of universal application, which is simple in its construction and which may be manufactured at small cost.

A further objeetof the invent-ion is :to pro vide such a bolt and nut lock that cannot be jarred loose or accidentallyremoved, but

which, due tothe resilience of: thematerial of which itis-composed,. may be readily removed from the bolt when desired by the use of a flat tool such as a chisel, screw driver, or the like.

Still another object is to accomplish the results enumerated above without weakening the bolt to which the locking device is applied.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing the nut lock in use,

Fig. 2 is a plan viewof the same, looking down upon the nut lock,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the nut lock, a nut, and a portion of a bolt, the parts being separated to show'the details of each,

Fig. 4

is a face view of a blank, stamped from spring steel, from which the nut lock.

is formed. 7

Fig. 5 is an elevation showing a modified form of lock applied to a suitable bolt and nut, and

Fig. 6 is an. end View of the same looking down upon the nut lock.

According to the preferred embodiment of my invention, the improved nut and bolt lock bay be formed from a single sheet of spring steel and preferably by a single stamping operation, necessitating only the subsequent bending of the lock nut into shape after the stamping operation. Fig. shows a blank comprising a body portion 10 and tongue, portions 12, the whole being com- 65 posed of spring metal, preferably steel.

The body portion 10 may be of any suitable shape, according to the type of nut with which it is designed to housed, the

form shown in the drawings being designed for use with a hexagonal nut. The body portion is cutaway as at 13,- 14, leaving a central -strip15 which is cut art-'16. The tongues 12 are also grooved asatr 17 near their ends by forcing down the metal and forming a'ridge on the opposite side. The blank, as shown inFig. t is preferably formed in a single stamping operation,

.tl'iough, if desired, it may be formed by a number of successive operations. To complete thennt lock, it is only necessary to bend down the tongues at right angles to the body'nien'iber, and likewise the two halves ofwthe strip 15 are bent atrightangles to thebody portion, forming spurs 23, thecompleted device being shown at the right in Fig. 3. It will be noted that the openings 13 and let and the space previously occupied by the strip 16 now merge to form an unobstructed central opening through which the end of a bolt may pass.

The lock is now adapted to be applied to a bolt 19 and nut 20 of standard construction, without weakening the bolt, nut, or threads, and without substantial 1nodification of either bolt or nut.

The only modification of the bolt required, is a slight flattening of the bolt as at 21, on opposite sides thereof with a corresponding flattening of the interior of the nut as at 22, in order toreceive the spurs 23 of the lock.

The nut 20 is also provided with grooves 25 on opposite faces, adapted to receive the. inturned portions 17 of the spring tongues 12 of the locking member.

The bolt and nut lock is shown assembled in Fig. 1, thebolt 19 extending through a plate 24:. The nut 20 is then threaded upon the bolt to the desired position, the flattened or grooved portions 21, 22 of the bolt and nut being in position to receive the spurs 23 of the locking device. The lock is now slipped into position, the end of thebolt passing freely through the central opening 18 of the locking member, and the spring tongues 12 slipping into place on the grooved face of the nut, while the s urs 23 fit snugly into the-grooves formed by the flattened portions 21, 22 on the bolt and nut respectively. In this position, it will be obvious that it would be impossible to remove the nut from the bolt, no matter what gtorce may be exerted, without first removing the nut lock. It is also obvious that the nut lock may be removed at will by simply litting the springtongues 12 from the grooved faces of the nut, any fiat instrument such as a chisel or screw driver being suitable "for this purpose. The nut may then be removed without difiiculty from the bolt, none of the parts being in any way injured, but suitable for further use.

Among other advantages possessed by the nut lock ma 1 be mentioned its positive operation, the simplicity of construction and the fact that none of the parts are in any way weakened, as is the case where the bolt is centrally split to receive the locking device. It will also be noted that the device is of universal application, and may be used with bolts or nuts of any desired type.

Obviously the invention is subject to 1nodifications. For example, in Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown a. locking device formed from spring wire, having a pair of spurs 26 fitting in a groove 27 formed on the bolt, the nut 28 being correspondingly grooved. The locking member is also provided with spring tongues 28, bent over as at 29 and fitting into a groove 80 on the side of the nut 28.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2- 1. A blank for forming a locking spring washer for use with a bolt and nut lock, comprising a strip of spring sheet metal having a body portion conforming substantially to the shape of a nut, spring tongues extending in opposite directions from said body portions and having grooves formed therein at a distance from said body portion, openings in said body portion sepa'ated by a strip in alignment with said tongues, said strips being cut transversely to divide the strip into two portions.

2. The method of making a locking spring washer for use as a bolt and nut lock, consisting in stamping out a blank from a sheet of spring metal, forming a body portion with a pair of oppositely extending tongue portions, the body portion conforming substantially to the shape of a standard nut, and having apertures separated by a central strip, forming grooves in said tongue portions, and cutting said central strip transversely, then bending said tongues at right angles to said body portion, and likewise bending the halves of said central strip forming spurs, leaving a central unobstructed opening in said body portion.

In testimony whereof I afiix'my signature.

WILLIAM R. SWEET. 

